Anna MacDonald has had enough backstabbing and betrayal to last her a lifetime. When her longtime lover and coworker passes her up for some ‘blonde bombshell,’ she decides to cut her losses and go on sabbatical. As a creative writing professor, she has all the knowledge she needs to write a book of her own, so she heads to the one place she has a connection to, Tigh na Cladach.

Luke Tallantyre is a landscaping artist from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. When his portraits start to look like one another and there is no special quality in them, he takes his yacht and sets sail with no special destination in mind. Weighing anchor in the rugged northwest Highlands, he does not expect to find himself in Loch Hourn, otherwise known as the Loch of Hell.

Finding himself stranded until he can get a part for his yacht, Luke soon discovers a peaceful serenity in the village and the people within it. For Anna, having a rugged man such as him practically in her backyard becomes harder for her as she finds herself fighting an attraction for this handsome stranger. When her home is broken into and then she is later shot at, Anna must turn to Luke for help in hopes of finding the protection she needs. As the accidents escalate, a dear friend will be harmed, and Anna must decide if Luke is helping her, or if he is the evil force behind the attacks.

The House on the Shore is a sensually suspenseful story filled with non-stop action, romance, and mystery. The facts of Scotland are told with brilliant description that bring the land to life and leave you feeling as if you have stepped out of your world and into the pages. Ms. Howard uses such passion and emotion when telling her story, making the tale flow right along until the last page is turned. With many different characters that will keep you guessing, this novel is the perfect example of how a suspenseful story should be told; the only part I did not like about the story was how at times it seemed to drag on. Thrilling until the very end, this book has a who-done-it attitude with such an aching tone of sensuality and love, it will keep you up all night just so you can finish this fantastic tale.